Re: CDC Grand Rounds: Prescription Drug Overdoses - a U.S. Epidemic

[Guest guest]

Nice post Chuck, 9 out of 10 poisonings in this country are from prescription drugs, 98,000 deaths occur per year (old data his has increased) due to adverse drug events which is defined as the supposed proper drug prescribed and taken properly by the patient they just have a bad reaction to the drug and die. If we then add the deaths due to medical mistakes as in prescribing the wrong drug, wrong combination of drugs, or wrong dosage the numbers of deaths due to prescription drugs increases. But it doesn’t stop there, over the counter medications are a problem Acetaminophen (Tylenol) is the leading cause of liver failure in our country resulting in 140,000 poisoning cases resulting in 56,000 ER visits each year and 100 deaths. Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) are the second leading cause of peptic ulcers, resulting 100,000 hospitalizations, $2 billion in additional indirect healthcare costs as a result and some 17,000 deaths each year. The numbers dear colleague are “off the face of the planet” and are in fact so large it’s hard to wrap one’s brain around them however, in my public testimony in front of the various Boards, Commissions, and in front of the interim Joint Healthcare committee this coming Wed., I will inform them again in terms they can comprehend. Deaths due to medications in this country equate to one Boeing 747-400 jumbo jet with 547 passengers crashing every single day an many believe this is an under estimate (Classen last year by a factor of 10X’s). I could go on and on we as a country are approaching the 4-billion annual prescription purchases mark and expected to reach the annual sales mark of $500 billion dollars by 2015 the year Oregon’s supposed universal healthcare system comes fully online which is simply not sustainable especially if you add the indirect costs of treating all the adverse drug events resulting in ER visits, hospitalizations, and lost work capacity/lost work days. Part of the Oregon Chiropractic Association’s consistent message to the Oregon Legislature is simply, “If we as a state are serious about healthcare reform, if we are indeed serious about changing how we deliver health care not just how we pay for it, we must move away from all the pharmacology there are so many natural much less invasive remedies that work and so many drugs that don’t.” It has been said that before someone or a group begins to “get it” remember your message, you must tell them that message at least seven times….well the Oregon Legislators are going to here it more than seven times I assure you! Vern Saboe From: [mailto: ] On Behalf Of Chuck Simpson, DCSent: Sunday, January 15, 2012 6:12 AMOregon DCsSubject: CDC Grand Rounds: Prescription Drug Overdoses — a U.S. Epidemic OR DCs, In 2007, approximately 27,000 unintentional drug overdose deaths occurred in the United States, one death every 19 minutes. Prescription drug abuse is the fastest growing drug problem in the United States. The increase in unintentional drug overdose death rates in recent years (Figure 1) has been driven by increased use of a class of prescription drugs called opioid analgesics (1). Since 2003, more overdose deaths have involved opioid analgesics than heroin and cocaine combined (Figure 2) (1). In addition, for every unintentional overdose death related to an opioid analgesic, nine persons are admitted for substance abuse treatment (2), 35 visit emergency departments (3), 161 report drug abuse or dependence, and 461 report nonmedical uses of opioid analgesics (4). Implementing strategies that target those persons at greatest risk will require strong coordination and collaboration at the federal, state, local, and tribal levels, as well as engagement of parents, youth influencers, health-care professionals, and policy-makers. The rest is here http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/mm6101a3.htm?s_cid=mm6101a3_e A. Simpson, DC | Vice President, Medical DirectorThe CHP Group | Smart Solutions. Healthy Results.Like us on Facebook | Follow us on Twitter | Follow us on LinkedIn | www.chpgroup.com csimpson@... 503-619-2041 O | 503-367-0872 C6600 SW 105th Ave, Ste 115 | Beaverton, OR 97008

[Guest guest]

“If we as a state are serious about healthcare reform, if we are indeed serious about changing how we deliver health care not just how we pay for it, we must move away from all the pharmacology there are so many natural much less invasive remedies that work and so many drugs that don’t.” I agree, Vern; we need to identify the language of these key points. For example, instead of "we must move away from all the pharmacology," you could use "we must apply evidence-based principles to pharmaceutical failures." Or, "we must push for testing of effective natural remedies to replace pharmaceutical failures." I like the phrase "pharmaceutical failures." It's strong and it leads the listener to ask herself, "What failures is he talking about?" Having a one page handout that summarizes these failures would seal the deal. Great stuff, Vern. You're the best! Sears, DC, IAYT1218 NW 21st AvePortland, Oregon 97209v: 503-225-0255f: 503-525-6902www.docbones.comOn Jan 15, 2012, at 6:55 AM, vsaboe wrote: Nice post Chuck, 9 out of 10 poisonings in this country are from prescription drugs, 98,000 deaths occur per year (old data his has increased) due to adverse drug events which is defined as the supposed proper drug prescribed and taken properly by the patient they just have a bad reaction to the drug and die. If we then add the deaths due to medical mistakes as in prescribing the wrong drug, wrong combination of drugs, or wrong dosage the numbers of deaths due to prescription drugs increases. But it doesn’t stop there, over the counter medications are a problem Acetaminophen (Tylenol) is the leading cause of liver failure in our country resulting in 140,000 poisoning cases resulting in 56,000 ER visits each year and 100 deaths. Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) are the second leading cause of peptic ulcers, resulting 100,000 hospitalizations, $2 billion in additional indirect healthcare costs as a result and some 17,000 deaths each year. The numbers dear colleague are “off the face of the planet” and are in fact so large it’s hard to wrap one’s brain around them however, in my public testimony in front of the various Boards, Commissions, and in front of the interim Joint Healthcare committee this coming Wed., I will inform them again in terms they can comprehend. Deaths due to medications in this country equate to one Boeing 747-400 jumbo jet with 547 passengers crashing every single day an many believe this is an under estimate (Classen last year by a factor of 10X’s). I could go on and on we as a country are approaching the 4-billion annual prescription purchases mark and expected to reach the annual sales mark of $500 billion dollars by 2015 the year Oregon’s supposed universal healthcare system comes fully online which is simply not sustainable especially if you add the indirect costs of treating all the adverse drug events resulting in ER visits, hospitalizations, and lost work capacity/lost work days. Part of the Oregon Chiropractic Association’s consistent message to the Oregon Legislature is simply, “If we as a state are serious about healthcare reform, if we are indeed serious about changing how we deliver health care not just how we pay for it, we must move away from all the pharmacology there are so many natural much less invasive remedies that work and so many drugs that don’t.” It has been said that before someone or a group begins to “get it” remember your message, you must tell them that message at least seven times….well the Oregon Legislators are going to here it more than seven times I assure you! Vern Saboe From: [mailto: ] On Behalf Of Chuck Simpson, DCSent: Sunday, January 15, 2012 6:12 AMOregon DCsSubject: CDC Grand Rounds: Prescription Drug Overdoses — a U.S. Epidemic OR DCs, In 2007, approximately 27,000 unintentional drug overdose deaths occurred in the United States, one death every 19 minutes. Prescription drug abuse is the fastest growing drug problem in the United States. The increase in unintentional drug overdose death rates in recent years (Figure 1) has been driven by increased use of a class of prescription drugs called opioid analgesics (1). Since 2003, more overdose deaths have involved opioid analgesics than heroin and cocaine combined (Figure 2) (1). In addition, for every unintentional overdose death related to an opioid analgesic, nine persons are admitted for substance abuse treatment (2), 35 visit emergency departments (3), 161 report drug abuse or dependence, and 461 report nonmedical uses of opioid analgesics (4). Implementing strategies that target those persons at greatest risk will require strong coordination and collaboration at the federal, state, local, and tribal levels, as well as engagement of parents, youth influencers, health-care professionals, and policy-makers. The rest is here http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/mm6101a3.htm?s_cid=mm6101a3_e A. Simpson, DC | Vice President, Medical DirectorThe CHP Group | Smart Solutions. Healthy Results.Like us on Facebook | Follow us on Twitter | Follow us on LinkedIn | www.chpgroup.com csimpson@... 503-619-2041 O | 503-367-0872 C6600 SW 105th Ave, Ste 115 | Beaverton, OR 97008